Frames



Jan. 27, 1970' R. J. ORMAN 3,491,485

FRAMES Filed March vle. 1968 United States Patent O 3,491,485 FRAMESRichard John Orman, Welwyn Garden City, England, assignor to ImperialChemical Industries Limited, London, England, a corporation of GreatBritain Filed Mar. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 713,585 Claims priority,application Great Britain, Apr. 6, 1967, 15,806/ 67 Int. Cl. E06b 3/20,7/24 U.S. Cl. 49-390 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Window frameassemblies having a tortuous path between opening and closed frames toprevent ingress of weathering. Frames may be assembled from brereinforced components.

The present invention relates to frame members and to frames suitable aswindow frames assembled from the frame members. The invention is moreparticularly concerned with frame members provided with weather-sealingmeans. The type of frame member to which the invention is mostpreferably applicable is that intended for use in the construction ofhorizontally or vertically pivoting window frames.

In one known type of horizontally pivoting window assembly aweather-sealing element in the form of an exposed flange member isseparately afxed to and positioned around the periphery of the upperhalf of the outer frame on its external side and another similarweathersealing element is separately aflixed to and positioned aroundthe periphery of the lower half of the outer frame on its internal side.The elements are arranged to cover the joint between the pivoting windowframe and the outer frame. The result is that the window assembly has anunsymmetrical and displeasing appearance when viewed from either itsinternal or external side since the Weather-sealing element can only beseen to extend around one-half of the periphery of the outer frame.Furthermore, the effectiveness of the weather-sealing element is not asgood as is often desirable.

According to the present invention a window frame member comprises amain body portion having a ridge extending therealong, an upstandprojecting out of the ridge and extending therealong such that a recessis located between the upstand and the main body portion.

By a window frame member we mean one member of a plurality of memberswhich may be assembled to produce a moving window frame or an outerframe in a window assembly.

The ridge is preferably located at one edge of one side of the main bodyportion. Preferably the upstand is substantially parallel to the facingside of the main body portion. The recess takes the form of achannellike section.

The invention also relates to a window assembly comprising a movingwindow frame pivoted or hinged to an outer frame, the moving Windowframe and the outer frame each being produced from window frame membersaccording to the invention as defined above, and being assembledtogether such that an upstand on a frame member of the moving windowframe is positioned in the recess of an adjoining frame member of theouter frame and that an upstand on said adjoining frame member ispositioned in the recess of the adjoined frame member when the movingwindow frame is closed against the outer frame.

Thus when the moving window frame is closed against the outer framethere is a labyrinth or tortuous path Patented Jan. 27, 1970 ICC aroundand between the recesses and upstands of adjoining frame members in themoving window frame and the outer frame and this is extremely effectivein preventing ingress Of the weather between adjoining frame members.Additionally, no exposed weather-sealing elements need be used.

In a preferred form of window assembly, a sealing member, made of, forexample, a rubber strip, may be located in the recess of at least one ofthe adjoining frame members. Preferably, the sealing member is locatedin the recess which is remote in the labyrinth or tortuous path from theweather side, i.e. it is located in the second recess encountered in thelabyrinth or tortuous path by rain or wind entering from the externalside of the window assembly.

The invention is particularly suitable for the production of movingwindow frames pivoted in an outer frame.

The frame members may be produced from any suitable material and themain body portion and/or the ridge may be solid or hollow. Suitablematerials include, for example, metals such as aluminum or steel, rigidsynthetic plastics materials such as vinyl chloride polymers or areinforced thermosetting resin, e.g. glass fibre reinforced polyesterresin. We prefer to make the frame members from a reinforcedthermosetting resin and also that the main body portion and ridge arehollow. In this case the frame member may be made from two componentsproduced by compression moulding a partially cured sheet of reinforcedthermosetting resin, such as glass fibre reinforced polyester resin.

The frame members in the latter case may have a constructionsubstantially as disclosed in our copending United Kingdom applicationsNos. 53,153/66 and 6,173/67 (United States Ser. No. 682,302, tiled Nov.13, 1967).

According to one embodiment of the present invention a frame membercomprises two components and has a main. body portion of generallyhollow rectangular crosssection, said main body portion having a ridgeextending therealong, said ridge being produced upon assembly of the twocomponents by uniting a flange of the first component, which angeextends substantially perpendicularly to a portion of the rst component,which portion forms at least part of one side of the main body portion,with a flange of the second component extending substantiallyperpendicularly to an extension of a portion of the second component,which portion forms at least part of an adjacent side of the main bodyportion such that the end of the flange of the first component abutsagainst the flange of the second component, a projection being formed onthe tirst or the second component for engaging the other component andlocating the abutment of the flanges of the two components.

Preferably, in this embodiment, the upstand, which serves as aweather-sealing element, is formed substantially as a continuation ofthe ange of the second component. In fact the upstand advantageouslycomprises a protruding member or extension formed integrally with theridge. It is desirable that the upstand should be substantially parallelto the portion of the rst component which forms at least part of oneside of the main body portion when the two components are assembled intothe frame member.

A preferred method of producing the components of this embodiment is tocompression mould them from a partially cured sheet of reinforcedthermosetting resin, e.g. glass iibre reinforced polyester resin.

It is preferred that the main body portion of the frame member should besubstantially rectangular. Within the term substantially rectangular weintend to include cases Where at least one side, and possibly more thanone side, 0f a component is made slightly non-perpendicular to itsadjacent side, e.g. by an angle of from 1/2 to 3 from the perpendicular.It is particularly advantageous to provide for this degree ofnon-perpendicularity in components which are formed by moulding sincethis facilitates removal of the moulded component from the mould.

The ridge is preferably also of hollow cross-section, although it neednot be hollow. It is advantageous that a ridge should be formed on eachof the opposite sides of the frame mernber.

The flanges of the lirst and second components are preferably arrangedsubstantially perpendicular to said portion of the first componentforming at least part of one side of the main body portion and to theextension of the second component respectively. Within the termsubstantially perpendicular we include cases where the anges areslightly nonxperpendicular to their associated portion or extension,e.g. by an angle of from 1/2 to 3 from the perpendicular. Likewise,within the term substantially parallel we include cases where there is adeviation of from 1/2 to 3 from paralleiism.

The projection is preferably formed on the second component for case ofmanufacture of the component, particularly when compression moulding ofa partially cured sheet of reinforced thermosetting resin is used. It isalso desirable to make the general plane of the projection perpendicularto the portion of the second component forming at least part of saidadjacent side and its extension, and to connect the projection to thisportion or extension. It is not necessary for the projection to extendthe whole length of either component on which it is formed. Indeed itmay only extend for a minor proportion of this length or may be brokeninto a plurality of spaced projections. The projection may take the formof a support and locating means for supporting the flange of the lirstcomponent in spaced relationship to the extension of the secondcomponent when the ridge is hollow.

The invention is applicable to two particularly preferred forms of framemembers within this embodiment.

In one form the frame member is assembled from two similarly shapedcomponents, each having the general cross-sectional form of an L havinga llange at the end of one of its limbs extending away from the otherand an extension, flange and projection on the other limb.

In the other form of frame member one component is generally U-shaped incross-section, having a llange at the end of each limb extending awayfrom the other limb. The other component is a capping componentcomprising a generally at main section having an extension and ilange ateach end and also provided with two projections.

The frame member may be produced from the two components by bondingVtogether the abutting surfaces of the flanges of each and bonding theprojection of one component to the surface of the other componentagainst which it abuts.

Production of the framemember may be etected by assembling the twocomponents with the flanges and projection is an unshaped condition.Alternatively the flanges or projection may be shaped to facilitateassembly, for instance channels may be formedin either of the anges orprojection to accommodate the mating part, or the abutting surfaces ofthe flanges and projection may be bevelled or may be formed withinter-engaging teeth or studs and cavities.

It is convenient to use tapered spigot and socket joints to facilitatejoining adjacent frame members together.

The invention also relates to frames, e.g. window frames, particularlyhorizontaily and vertically pivoting window frames, produced from framemembers according to the invention.

The frame members of the invention may be fabricated into moving windowframes, and also into the lintels and jambs of the outer frames usedwith such window frames.

In order that the invention may be more readily under stood, preferredembodiments thereof are now described 4r by way of example only and withreference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of one form of frame memberaccording to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is end elevational view of another form of frame memberaccording to the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of a horizontally pivoting windowassembly constructed from frame memlbers as shown in FIGURES l and 2.

The frame member shown in FIGURE 1 is assembled from two components Aand B of generally L-shaped cross-section made by compression mouldingpartially cured sheets of glass libre reinforced polyester resin. Thecomponent A is formed with limbs 1a and 2a, the limb 1a having a llange3a and the limb 2a having an extension 4a provided with a llange 5a. Aprojection 6a extends from the vicinity of connection of the limb 2a andthe extension 4a and has a channelled portion 7a facing the flange 5a.The flange 5a has a channel 8a along its face facing the projection 6a.Component B is constructed in a similar fashion to component A and itsreference characters are similar to those used for component A but aresuliixed with the letter b instead of the letter 5. The flange 5b ofcomponent B has an upstand 9b formed integrally with and as acontinuation of the liange 5b and extending along the whole length ofthe ange 5b. A recess 11 is located between the upstand 9b and the limb1a.

When the components A and B are assembled into a frame member, theflange 3a of the first component A is united with the flange 5b of thesecond componentL and seated in the channel 8b. The projection 6bengages the rst component A by means of the channelled portion 7b in theregion of' connection of the flange 3a to the limb la of component A andserves to support and locate the flange 3a in spaced apart relationshipto the extension 4b. It will be seen that the limb 1a forms part of oneside of the niain body portion of the frame member, which is ofgenerally hollow cross-section, and that the limb 2b forms part of itsadjacent side. One ridge extending longitudinally along the frame memberis produced by the flanges 3a and 5b and the extension 4b. Another ridgeis produced by the flanges 3b and 5a and the extension 4a, and isassembled by uniting the lianges 3b and 5a in a manner similar to thatdescribed for the lirst ridge. The two ridges have different dimensionswhen measured in a direction perpendicular to the limbs 2a and 2b andthis is provided for by making the limb la, the ange 5a and theprojection 6a of component A of dilferent lengths from the limb 1b, theflange 5b and the projection 6b of component B. The abutting surfaces ofthe components A and B were bonded together with a polyester resin glue.

The upstand 9b which extends substantially parallel to the limb 1aserves as a Weather-sealing element when two frame members are used inconjunction and their upstands are caused to overlap, whereby an upstandof one frame member is positioned in the recess of the adjoining framemember, for instance, as shown in FIGURE 3 which will be referred tobelow.

The frame member shown in FIGURE 2 is assembled from a generallyU-shaped cross-section component 15 and a capping component 16, eachmade by compression moulding a partially cured sheet of glass ibrereinforced polyester resin. The U-shaped component 15 has two limbs 17and 18 extending from a base 19. Fianges 26 and 21 are formed at theends of the limbs 17 and 18 respectively. The capping component 16 has amain portion '22 and extensions 25 and 26 formed at each end of the mainportion 22. Flanges 27 and 28 extend from the extensions 25 and 26respectively and have channels 29 and 30 respectively. Projections 31and 32 extend from the capping component 16 in the vicinity of theconnection between the extension 25 and the main portion 22 and theextension 26 and the main portion 22 respectively.

The projections 31 and 32 have channelled portions 33 and 34respectively. An upstand 35 is formed integrally with and as acontinuation of the flange 27 and extending along the whole length ofthe flange 27. A recess 38 is located between the upstand 35 and thelimb 17.

Upon assembly of the components 15 and 16 into a frame member, theflange 20 of the U-Shaped component 15 comprising the first component isunited with the flange 27 of the capping component 16 comprising thesecond component and seated in the channel 29 in the flange 27. Theprojection 31 engages the first component 15 by means of its channelledportion 33 in the region of connection of the ange 20 to the lim-b 17and serves to support and locate the fiange 27 in spaced apartrelationship to the extension 25. In this frame member the limb 17 formspart of one side of the main body portion of the member, which is ofgenerally hollow cross-section, and the main portion 22 of the cappingcomponent 16 forms part of its adjacent side. One ridge which extendslongitudinally along the frame member is formed by the flanges 20 and 27and the extension 25. Another ridge is likewise formed by the flanges 21and 28 and the extension 26, and is assembled by uniting the anges 21and 28 in a manner similar to that described for the first ridge. Thetwo ridges have different dimensions when measured perpendicular to themain portion 22. This is achieved by making the fiange 27, theprojection 31 and the limb 17 different lengths from the correspondingfiange 28, projection 32 and limb 18. The abutting surfaces of theU-shaped component 15 and the cap-ping component 16 were bonded togetherwith a polyester resin glue. l

The upstand 35 extends substantially parallel to the limb 17 to serve asa weather-sealing element when two frame members are used in aconstruction where the upstan'ds of the two members are caused tooverlap, whereby an upstand of one frame member is positioned in therecess of the adjoining frame member, for instance, as shown in FIGURE 3which will now be referred to below.

FIGURE 3 shows in cross-section a horizontally pivoting window framemade from frame members 60, 61, 62 and 63, and interconnecting member64. The window frame is pivoted by means of the interconnecting member64 to an outer frame of which the lintel and sill are made from framemembers 65 and 66 respectively. The frame members 63 and 66 areassembled in the manner described with reference to FIGURE l and theframe members 60 and 65 are assembled in the manner described withreference to FIGURE 2. The outer frame is secured in a window opening ofa wall 68 in a building so that one ridge of the frame members formingthe outer frame, as shown for instance at 69 for the frame member 65 andat 70 for the frame member 66, overlaps the edge of the window openingon the external side 0f the wall thereby providing an attractive finishby concealing the joint between the outer frame and the edge of thewindow opening. A pane 72 of glass is afiiXed to the pivoting windowframe by a strip of putty 73, as shown in relation to the frame members60 and 63.

The pivoting window frame is shown in FIGURE 3 in th-e closed position,the frame member 60 of the window frame being closed against the lintelmade from the frame member 65 and similarly for all other frame membersof the assembly, such as the frame member 63 and the sill made from theframe member 66.. The ridge 75 of the frame member 60 is arranged toface the ridge 76 of the frame membr 65, these two ridges being locatedbetween the main body portions of the frame members 60 and 65. Theupstand 77 on the frame member 60 overlaps with the upstand 78 on theframe member 65. The upstand 77 is caused to fit into and be located inthe recess 80 in the adjoining frame member 65 between the upstand 78and the main body portion of the frame member 65, and likewise theupstand 78 is fitted into and located in the recess 81 in the adjoiningframe member 60. This arrangement of the upstands 77 and 78 provides alabyrinth or tortuous path between the frame members 60 and 65. Asealing member 82 made of a rubber strip secured by an adhesive to theframe member 65 is abutted by the upstand 77 to seal the tortuous pathagainst weather penetration. The upstands of the frame members aroundthe whole periphery of the pivoting window frame are caused to belocated in corresponding recesses in corresponding adjoining framemembers in the same manner as described with reference to the framemembers 60 and 65 so that an effective seal against weather penetrationis provided around the whole periphery of the window assembly. Thisapplies to the frame members 63 and 66.

In order to allow the pivoting window frame to pivot about an axis 83 inthe interconnection member 64 so that the frame members 60 and 63 pivotin the direction of the arrows P, it is necessary to locate the ridge ofthe frame member 60 and a corresponding ridge on the frame member 61 onthe internal side of the window frame and to locate the ridge 82 of theframe member 63 and a corresponding ridge on the frame member 62 on theexternal side of the window frame. For this reason frame members 60, 61and 65 have the configuration shown in FIGURE 2 and the frame members62, 63 and 66 have the configuration shown in FIGURE l. Since the framemembers 61 and 62 have differentconfigurations the interconnectingmember 64 has the appropriate crosssectional configuration at its endsto enable it to be joined to the frame members 61 and 62. Hence theupper end of the interconnecting member 64 as viewed in FIGURE 3 has across-sectional configuration corresponding to that of the frame member61 and the lower end of the interconnecting member has a cross-sectionalconfiguration corresponding to that of the frame member 62. A similarinterconnecting member (not shown in the drawing) is provided in theouter frame upon which the interconnecting member 64 is pivoted.

I claim:

1. A window assembly comprising a moving window frame pivoted or hingedto an outer frame, the moving frame and the outer frame each beingproduced from frame members having a main body portion of hollowcross-section and a closed hollow ridge extending along at least one ofits sides, with each said frame member being assembled from twocomponents made from a synthetic plastics material, said two componentscomprising (a) a first component having a fiange extending substantiallyperpendicularly to a portion of said first component, which portionforms one side of the main hollow crosssection of the frame member and(b) a second component having a flange extending substantiallyperpendicularly to an extension of a portion of said second component,which portion forms an adjacent side of the main hollow cross-section ofthe frame member, and said closed hollow ridge being produced uponassembly of said two components by abutting the end of the flange ofsaid first component against the flange of said second component, andsaid second component being further provided with at least oneprojection which engages with the corner of the first component betweenthe flange of the first component and the portion of the first componentwhich forms said one side of the main hollow cross-section, as the twocomponents are brought together, to guide the end of the flange of thefirst component into abutting relationship with the flange of the secondcomponent, said closed hollow ridgehaving an upstand extendingtherealong such that a recess is located between the upstand and themain body portion, and the moving window frame and the outer frame beingassembled together such that an upstand on a frame member of the movingwindow frame is positioned in the recess of an adjoining frame member ofthe outer frame and that an upstand on said adjoining frame member ispositioned in the recess of the adjoined frame member when the movingwindow frame is closed against the outer frame, whereby a labyrinth ortortuous path is formed around and between the recesses and upstands ofthe frame member and the adjoining frame member.

2. A Window assembly according to claim 1 in which a sealing member islocated in the recess which is remote from the Weather side of theassembly.

References Cited' UNITED STATES PATENTS 835,098 11/1906 Christenson49--392 X 1,158,378 10/1915 Fullerton et al 52-731 X 1,294,189 2/1919Stilling 49-390 X Rappaport 52-731 X Ansel 49-392 Zimmermann 49-489Sherron 52-309 X FOREIGN PATENTS Italy.

JACOB SHAPIRO, Primary Examiner 10 P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner U.S.Cl. X.R.

